Friday, August 13 1762

In the forenoon I walked to Laughton to look upon Mr Sam Gibbs’s wool. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner…

In the afternoon Mr Tipper, officer of excise in this place, and I walked to Mrs Piper’s, where I measured part of a field for her. We stayed and drank tea there. Bett Mepham drank tea with my servants.

In the evening my brother-in-law Samuel Slater came to see me, and he together with Mr Tipper and Joseph Fuller spent the evening with me. My brother Slater stayed all night. This day balanced accounts with John Watford the younger and paid him 0.1.10 in full to this day…

This day the King’s Plate of £100 was run for on Lewes Downs by Lord Grosvenor’s horse Boreas and Mr Howard’s crop mare Suskey, which was won by Boreas, he distancing the mare in the first heat.
 

Thursday, August 12 1762

…In the afternoon Mr Henry Gallet, a brother trade[sman] and an old acquaintance, brought home my servant and drank tea with me and stayed and smoked a pipe or two with me.

In the evening his Grace the Duke of Newcastle came to Halland where he lodged all night in his road for the races on Lewes Downs tomorrow. This morning about 7:30 her Majesty Queen Charlotte, consort of our most gracious sovereign, was safely delivered of a prince, and are both like to do very well.

At home all day and pretty busy a part of the day.

Wednesday, August 11 1762

Paid Thomas Durrant in cash 1.1.9 in full for the same sum he paid in Lewes for me yesterday; viz.,

To Mr John Lambert in full on my account0.18.6
To signing a poor rate0.2.0
To money borrowed of him0.1.0
To a brush0.0.3

John Jenner the hatter at Hailsham and his son dined with me on a loin of mutton roasted in the oven and some French beans. Paid John Jenner in cash, foods and a book debt 1.7.2 in full for hats received by him today and what I have received from him before since we last balanced…

Sunday, August 8 1762

Myself and one servant at church in the morning… Mr John Hastings, a humble servant to one of my maids, called to see her during churchtime and dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, 2 chicken roasted, a plain suet pudding and carrots.

Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon… Sam Jenner and Thomas Davy drank tea with me, and after tea they together with Thomas Durrant, myself and servant took a walk. Came home about 7:20. Thomas Durrant lodged at my house.

How much more pleasure is it to be at home all day of a Sunday and to attend the service of the church than to be rioting about as I have too much been of late. But may I never more offend in that point.

Friday, August 6 1762

In the morning, bought the Rev Mr Porter’s wool at 6d a pound. Went down to Mr French’s and bought his wool, but at no particular price… Paid Ben Shelley in cash 2/4½ and by money he received of Mr Ben Treacher in full for rabbit skins I sent him 9/7½, which together makes the sum of 12/- and is in full for the same sum he paid Dr Godfrey in full for three dozen of his cordial this week…

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr, myself, Thomas Durrant, Joseph Durrant, James Marchant and James Potter went down to Jones’s, where we stayed and smoked a pipe or two and spent 3d each. Came home about 10:05, very sober.

This afternoon John Durrant the younger was buried at our church, aged 31 years, who died as it were after a few days’ illness, though he has not been in a firm state of health some time past. Very little to do all day. I hardly know what to do for the want of money; and yet I cannot get in one bill. Thomas Durrant lodged at my house all night.

Wednesday, August 4 1762

…Finished posting my day book. In the afternoon Mr French and I rode down to Mr John Dicker’s to consult about burying of John Durrant, who died yesterday, and came home about 5:10.

Mr Tipper and Mr Buller drank tea with me in the afternoon. But very little to do all day. Oh, melancholy time! Trade very dull and money intolerable scarce and, what is still worse, no sincere friend for an agreeable companion.